Clinker removing device



Jan. 3, 1939. w. GAUGHRIN CLINKEP. REMOVING DEVICE Filed May 2l, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

W. GAUGHRIN Jan. 3, 1939.

GLINKER REMOVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1957 1 INVENTOR.WI LIAM GAUI' RIN Q 9 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to furnaces and more particularly to clinkerremoving devices therefor, although certain features thereof may beemployed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of improved clinkerremoving attachment in combination with a fuel carrier to insure clinkerfree operation therewith.

Glinkers are a constant source of interruption and annoyance in fuelfeeding devices and result in thermal losses unless the fuel grate andfeedingdevices are kept clear thereof. Clinker removing devices areutilized in conjunction with fuel grates, especially of the moving fuelfeeding type as set forth in United States Letters Patent 1,622,312dated March 29, 1927. The carrier for the clinker removing member ispreferably in the form of a horizontal endless conveyor chain havingasuitable support for guiding and effecting its travel along apredetermined path to introduce fuel such as coal into the combustionspace of a furnace. The clinker removing membersare preferably providedadjacent the oppo-- site sides of the fuel grate so as to contact thebase portions of the clinkers as the grate traverses its-predeterminedpath of travel in supplying fuel for combustion purposes.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved clinkerremoving devices in connection with coal burning furnaces.

Another object is to provide a clinker removing expedient of improvedconstruction and operation;

Still another object is to provide a clinker breaking knife that isadjustably connected to a fuel grate conveyor for displacementtherewith.

A further object is to provide a clinker breaking attachment to a fuelgrate for permanent connection therewith.

A still further object is to provide a clinker breaking: knife that ispivotally connected to a grate so as to clear any obstructions in thepath of movement.

Still a further object is to provide a clinker breaking knife that isoperatively connected to a fuel grate so as to be collapsibly associatedtherewith to clear obstructions in the path thereof.

An additional object is to provide pivotally connected: clinker breakingknives in conjunction with fuel grates together with means for normallymaintaining such in an operative condition and displace'able to aninoperative position by obstructions in the path thereof.

Gther objects and advantages will appear from thefollowing descriptionof an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of a preferred" embodiment--embodying features of the present invention in connection with anendless chain grate, parts thereof being broken away to clarify theshowing.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line IIII ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lineIII-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional end view in elevation of a modifiedembodiment of the present invention, the grate link sustaining rollersbeing dispensed with.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of an end link with a clinker breakingknife attached thereto in a manner embodying features of the presentinention, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section toclarify the showing.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIL-VII ofFigure 5.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified clinker removing membershown permanently attached to a link.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a still further modified form of aclinker removing device that is detachably associated with a link of thefuel grate.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a chain'link of the type shown inFigure 2.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a spring used in conjunction with theclinker breaking knife.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a furnace of anysuitable construction or design having confining walls lll and I2--I3 todefine a combustion chamber. The particular shape of the combustionchamber may vary in size and design within a wide range depending uponthe dictates of commercial practice and the requirement of anyparticular installation. The furnace is provided with a fuel-grate thatpreferably though not essentially consists of an endless chain it formedof a plurality of links l and I6 defining. alternate series of endlessconstituent chains having their link extremities interconnected by meansof pivoted rods 11 and I8, respectively.

It is worthy of note that the alternate series of interconnected linksI5 and I6 are disposed in advance of each other for one-half of the linklength with the pivoted rods I I and I8 connecting the extremities ofthe link series l5 and 16 that are independent of each other to impartthereto the desired flexibility for linear drums in a manner that willappear more fully hereinafter. The length of the link series definingendless adjacent chains I5 and It as well as the number that arealternately disposed in adjacent relationship in advance of each otherdepends upon the'size of the combustion chamber.

It is worthy of note" that theindividual links 5 and I6 which areidentical in structure and shape, are provided with a linear series ofalternately disposed notches l9 and 2|) (Figure 10) along the side edgesthereof to provide a free path for the draft air to pass upwardlytherethrough. The lateral extreme sides of the endless chain conveyordefined by the links l5 and I6 that are pivotally connected in tandemand laterally of each other in alternate series, are provided with aseries of links 2| which are interconnected with the intermediate linkseries l6 by the extremities of their pivot rods l1 and IS, the links 2|on both sides of the endless chain l4 being of identical constructionand carry clinker breaking knives 22 in a manner which will appear morefully hereinafter.

The outside links 2| travel adjacent the side walls of the combustionchamber of the furnace In so as to be disposed in the path of theclinkers formed therein. The clinker breaking knives 22 consist, in thisinstance, of an elongated bar of substantially rectangularcross-section. The top surface of the bar 22 has converging surfaces 23and 24 (Figure 7) that define a sharp cutting edge 25 along alongitudinal median line thereof for substantially its entire lengthexcept for the forward extremity 26. As shown, the clinker breakingknives are pivoted at their forward extremity 25 to a pin 21 thatextends transversely through the forward region of the outside links 2|that are preferably though not essentially of tubular construction andformation to receive the knife 22 therein through an open ing 28provided in the top surface 29 thereof.

In order to urge the knife 22 in its extreme counter-clockwise position(viewed from Figure 5), a coil spring 3|] envelops the extremities ofthe pin 21 on both sides of the knife extremity 26 that is reduced toprovide a hub 3| so that it may accommodate coil spring extremities 32within the interior of the links 2| (Figure '1). The coil extremities ofthe spring 36 terminate in linear extensions 33 that contact theforwardly curved interior 34 of the link 2| (Figure 5), thereby urgingthe intermediate straight portion 35of the spring 3!] against theunderside of the knife 22 to elevate such to its extreme operativecounter-clockwise position (Figure 5).

Should the knife 22 meet an obstruction constituting a part of the framestructure of the fuel grate l4, the spring 3|] will permit the pivotaldisplacement of the knife 22 to its collapsed or inoperative positionsubstantially shown in dotted outline in Figure 5 within the interior ofthe links 2|. It is worthy of note, however, that the knife 22 will notbe deflected to its inoperative position by the mere resistance offeredby a clinker that may be in the path of the knife edge 25 thereof. Theencounter of the longitudinal series of knives 22 with the clinkersforming along the side walls of the furnace serves to effect thebreaking or disintegration thereof. The disintegrated clinkers arecarried along by the grate M to the ash pit 36 as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

The pivot pins 21 that sustain the knives 22 are threaded to the links2| having a side opening 21' communicating with the tubular interior ofthe links 2|, thereby affording the assembling and dismantling of theknives 22 with their springs 30 within the side links 2| of the endlessgrate I4. An opening 21" may be provided in the bottom of the side links2| in order to permlt any foreign substances such as parts of thedisintegrated clinkers to pass therethrough should such become lodgedwithin the tubular interior thereof. In order to sustain the traverse ofthe endless conveyor grate l4, the latter is mounted on a frame 31having transverse shafts 38 and 39 bridging side plates 40 and 4|thereof. The shafts 38 and 39 carry traction wheels 42 and 43 justinwardly of and adjacent to the exterior side frame plates 46 and 4|that support a pair of rails 44 that enable the frame 31 with itsendless grate 4 to be displaced along a linear path within thecombustion chamber H! of the furnace to effect the complete removalthereof should occasion arise therefor.

As shown, the frame 31 together with its side plates 4|l4| carry drums45 and 46 journalled on shafts 41 and 48 carried by the frame 31. It isto be noted that the shaft 48 is mounted in adjustable blocks 49disposed in horizontal guides 50 near the forward extremity of the frame31. Threaded rods 56 extend from vertical members 52 to engage theblocks 49 so as to effect their adjustment along horizontal guides 56.To this end, the forward drum 46 is adjustable within the limits ofthreaded rods 5| that have lock nuts 53 and 54 provided thereon tomaintain the blocks 49 in any adjusted position. As shown, the drums 45and 46 are provided with sprocket teeth 55 circumferentially spaced overthe surface thereof to engage the extremities of the links l5 and Hiadjacent the pivotal shafts I1 and H3 thereof to effect their traversealong an endless path defined by the drums 45 and 46.

In order to sustain the endless conveyor l4 and drums 45 and 45 in aneffort to avoid sagging, a plurality of rollers 56 and 51 are carried bythe shafts 58 and 59, respectively, that bridge the side plates 40 and4| of the frame 31 to define .a horizontal series of upper and lowerrollers 56 and 51. It is worthy of note that the lower series of rollers51 are in the path of the forwardly disposed clinker breaking andremoving knives so that it is necessary for the latter to ride thereoverin their collapsed position within the tubular links 2|. With thisarrangement, the clinker knives 22 assume their operative inclinedposition responsive to the urge of the spring 30 be yond the limits ofthe lower series of rollers 51 and the shafts 39 and 38 supporting theframe wheels 42 and 43.

As described herein, the clinker removing members are preferably in theform of steel knives 22 having convergent surfaces 23 and 24 whichintersect in a sharp linear breaking edge 25. These are mounted only ona series of outside links 2| pivotally connected in tandem by pivot rods|8 at each side of the endless chain H. The clinker removing members arepreferably assembled with the chain grate links l5 and I6 laterallyalternated in a series of laterally disposed chains connected abreastand in tandem by the pivot rods l1 and I8, respectively, to define theendless chain grate M. The travel thereof is normally in a clockwisedirection (viewed from Figure 1) and such is effected by means of a wormWheel 60 attached to the drum supporting shaft 41 to impart clockwiserotation thereto. Therotation imparted to the drum 45 is intermittentand is rendered possible through the worm 6| carried by the transverseshaft 62 journalled in bearings 63 mounted to the frame 31 in anyassociated manner.

The worm 6| meshes with the worm wheel 60 and intermittent rotation isimparted to the transverse shaft 62 by means of a stub shaft 64 Ill thatis geared thereto by means of intermeshing bevel gears (not shown)confined in a housing 65 which is an extension of a housing 66 thatenvelops the worm wheel 60 described supra. The housings 65-66 areattached to the side plate 40 of the frame 31, and intermittent rotationis imparted to the stub shaft 64 by means of a bell crank lever 51attached thereto so that the short arm 58 thereof may carry a pawl 69pivotally attached to the extremity 10 thereof. The pawl 69 cooperateswith a ratchet wheel ll attached for rotation with the sub shaft 64 thatis intermittently operated responsive to the oscillations of the bellcrank lever 61.

The bell crank lever 67 is oscillated responsive to a rod 1'2terminating in a knuckle 13 that affords adjustable attachment to thebell crank lever 61 through the medium of an elongated slot 74 therein.The strike of the bell crank lever 61 is adjusted by varying theposition of. attachment of the knuckle 73 along the length of the slot14 so as to vary and control the speed of intermittent rotation impartedto the driving drum 45. The rod i2 is pivotally connected at its upperextremity (not shown) to a crank arm (not shown) that is rotated by anelectric motor mounted on any suitable part of the furnace H) or anextension of the frame 31.

As a result of the continuous rotation of the motor (not shown),intermittent rotation is imparted to the worm 6| so as to causecomparatively slower intermittent rotation of the worm Wheel 66 that isaffixed to the shaft 41 supporting the drum 45 for movement therewith.It must be borne in mind that the linear travel of the endless fuelconveyor I4 is comparatively slow to meet the requirements of fuelcombustion.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figure 4, the transverse shafts 58and 59 together with the moving chain grate supporting rollers 56 and51, respectively, are dispensed with and provided with horizontallyconfronting tracks 75 provided on the interior sides of the side plates40" and 41'. The end links 2i are sustained by the confrontinghorizontal tracks 15 to preclude the necessity of having the rollers 55and 51 disposed between the side plates 40 and 4| (Figures 1 and 2).With this arrangement, it is not necessary to provide the pivotallymounted clinker breaking knives 22 so that a modified form thereof maybe resorted to in such instances.

To this end, a modified form of knife 22' (Fig ure 8) may be integrallymounted on the end links 2| without any requirement to render suchmovable or collapsible in any position of grate travel along the entirepath thereof. In such instance, the end links 2! may be of solidconstruction rather than tubular as shown in connection with theembodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

In the still further modified embodiment shown in Figure 9, the clinkerbreaking knives 22 are formed integral with a base 16 having a tongueprojection 11 extending downwardly therefrom to cooperate with acomplemental groove 18 provlded longitudinally in the top surface 19 ofthe end links 2i. With this arrangement, the clinker breaking knives 22"are inserted in the link grooves 18 while the chain grate links 2| turnabout the outward sprocket drum. 45 to render such accessible for thatpurpose. As the chain grate i4 is caused to travel in its normaldirection, these knives 22" whose cutting edges are parallel with andclose to (but not touching) the side walls of. the furnace I0, willengage the clinkers at their base portions and remove them. The clinkerswill lodge upon the grate I4 and will be deposited at the rear endthereof upon the furnace floor. When the links 2|" which carry theclinker removing knives 22 have been turned by the inward drum 46 to asufiicient extent, the knives 22 will slide along the grooves 18 fromthe links 2|" so that when the grate chain I4 moves sufficientlyfurther, the clinker removing knives 22" will fall away from the gratechain I4 onto the furnace floor. The knives 22" are, therefore,prevented from coming into engagement with the grate supporting rollers51 and shafts 3839 that support the furnace chain grate structure orinto engagement with any other part of the grate structure. Whenclinkers again form, the knives 22 which already have been retrievedfrom the furnace floor by means of suitable hooks or tongs having longhandle members, are readily replaced as soon as the chain grate M haspassed the obstructions presented by the transverse rollers 57 as wellas the shafts 3B and 39 carrying the carriage supporting wheels 42 and43.

With such a construction, the knives 22" are detachably associated withthe links 2| to prevent removal during their movement along the upperhorizontal stretch of. the endless grate M to feed and sustain the coaland enable their removal from the grate links 2| upon reversal of thegrate l4 direction. Thus, the chain grate I4 is then free to proceedalong the lower inoperative stretch of traverse in a repeated cycle ofintermittent grate moving operations. Various changes may be made in theembodiment of the invention herein specifically disclosed withoutdeparting from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention orany features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed aslimitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment asto the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. In a device for removing clinkers from the side walls of furnaces,the combination with an endless fuel conveyor comprising interconnectedlinks, of clinker removing means movably connected to the end linksdefining the side edges of said endless conveyor, said clinker removingmeans being fixedly connected in linear alignment to said end linksagainst removal during the operation of said conveyor.

2. In a device for removing clinkers from the side walls of furnaces,the combination with an endless fuel conveyor comprising interconnectedlinks, of clinker removing means pivotally connected to the end linksdefining the side edges of said endless conveyor, said clinker removingmeans being connected in linear alignment to said end links againstremoval during the operation of said conveyor.

3. In a device for removing clinkers from the side walls of furnaces,the combination with an endless fuel conveyor comprising interconnectedlinks, of. clinker removing means pivotally connected to the end linksdefining the side edges of said endless conveyor, said clinker removingmeans being connected in linear alignment to said end links againstremoval during the operation of said conveyor, and spring means forurging said clinker removing means to normally assume an operativeposition,

4. In a device for removing clinkers from the side walls of furnacesincluding an endless traveling conveyor for feeding fuel along apredetermined path for progressive combustion in said furnace, clinkerremoving members associated with certain links of said endless conveyor,said clinker removing means being in the form of a knife having an endportion secured to the conveyor and a clinker cutting edge portionextending upwardly from said conveyor links, the conveyor links andclinker removing member having complemental tongue and groove formationsinteracting to prevent separation of said conveyor links and clinkerremoving members when said member is in the upper stretch of theconveyor to enable said members to effect removal of clinkers andpermitting said member to fall from the conveyor upon reversal in thedirection of travel of the conveyor.

5. Apparatus for removing clinkers from the side walls of furnacesincluding an endless traveling conveyor having upper and lower stretchesand a clinker removing member upon said conveyor, the conveyor andclinker removing member having tongue and groove formations interactingto prevent separation of said conveyor and member when said member is inthe upper stretch of the conveyor to enable said member to effectremoval of clinkers and permitting said member to fall from the conveyorupon reversal in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with aflexible fuel grate, of means for moving said fuel grate along apredetermined path to feed coal into a furnace, and movably mountedmeans on the side edges of said grate in the path of formed clinkers toeffect the disintegration and removal thereof.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with aflexible fuel grate, of means for moving said fuel grate along apredetermined path to feed coal into a furnace, movably mounted means onthe side edges of said grate in the path of formed clinkers to effectthe disintegration and removal thereof, and means for resilientlymaintaining said last named means in operative position and to permitthe displacement thereof to an inoperative position for clearancepurposes.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with aflexible fuel grate, of means for moving said fuel grate along apredetermined path to feed coal into a furnace, movably mounted means onthe side edges of said grate in the path of formed clinkers to effectthe disintegration and removal thereof, and means for resilientlymaintaining said last named means in operative position and to permitthe displacement thereof to an inoperative position for clearancepurposes.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with aflexible fuel grate, of means for moving said fuel grate along apredetermined path to feed coal into a furnace, linear series of movablymounted means on the side edges of said grate in the path of formedclinkers to effeet the disintegration and removal thereof, and means forresiliently maintaining said last named means in operative position andto permit the displacement thereof to an inoperative position forclearance purposes.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with aflexible fuel grate, of means for moving said fuel grate along apredetermined path to feed coal into a furnace, linear series of movablymounted means having knife edges pivotally mounted on the side edges ofsaid grate in the path of formed clinkers to effect the disintegrationand removal thereof, and means for resiliently maintaining said lastnamed means in operative position and to permit the displacement thereofto an inoperative position for clearance purposes.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with anendless grate comprising a series of interconnected links in flexibleassocia tion, the side edges of said grate comprising links having asubstantially flat surface, there being an elongated groove in the topsurface of said last named links, said groove communicating with an endof said links, and clinker removing means slidably mounted in the grooveof said last named links.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with anendless grate comprising a series of interconnected links in flexibleassociation, the side edges of said grate comprising links having asubstantially fiat surface, there being slots in the top surface of saidlast named links, and clinker removing means movably mounted in the slotof said last named links.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with anendless grate comprising a series of interconnected links in flexibleassociation, the side edges of said grate comprising links having asubstantially flat surface, there being slots in the top surface of saidlast named links, and clinker removing means pivotally mounted in theslot of said last named means.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with anendless grate comprising a series of interconnected links in flexibleassociation, the side edges of said grate comprising chambered linkshaving a substantially flat surface, there being slots in the topsurface of said last named links in communication with the chamberedinterior thereof, and clinker removing means pivotally mounted in theslot of said last named means.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with anendless grate comprising a series of interconnected links in flexibleassociation, the side edges of said grate comprising chambered linkshaving a substantially flat surface, there being slots in the topsurface of said last named links in communication with the chamberedinterior thereof, clinker removing means pivotally mounted in the slotof said last named means, and spring means mounted within said tubularlinks to engage said clinker removing means to normally maintain thelatter in operative position.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with anendless grate comprising a series of interconnected links in flexibleassociation, the side edges of said grate comprising chambered linkshaving a substantially flat surface, there being slots in the topsurface of said last named links in communication with the chamberedinterior thereof, clinker removing means pivotally mounted in the slotof said last named means, and spring means mounted within said tubularlinks to engage said clinker removing means to normally maintain thelatter in operative position, there being a side opening in said tubularlinks to enable the assembling and dismantling of said spring means.

WILLIAM GAUGHRIN.

